​Police under rifle fire in Columbus, Ohio – reports

​Police officers have come under rifle fire attack in the city of Columbus, Ohio, reports on Twitter said, citing police scanners.“Officers under attack from rifle fire,” the message on Columbus Police Dispatch said.#BREAKING: Large portion of Cleveland Ave. shut down due to police investigation after shots fired in the area. pic.twitter.com/nJ64j11atd
— WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) July 21, 2016Later, Columbus’s ABC 6 reported a large portion of Cleveland Avenue was shut down in the city’s north as the police investigation was underway. Fox 28 said on Twitter shots were fired in the area.
Officers under attack from rifle fire in Columbus, Ohio, according to scanner.
— Susan Shaw (@SusanShaw7) July 21, 2016A gunman is reportedly on the loose after opening rifle fire, WBNS-TV reported.
The hashtag #bluelivesmatter, referring to targeted police officers, has appeared on Twitter in connection to the incident.#BREAKING: Here is the #police scanner feed in Columbus, #Ohio where #police officer is shot & ongoing battle. https://t.co/jxsR4U9DMk
— News Source LA (@NewsSourceLA) July 21, 2016Columbus, the capital and the largest city in Ohio, is home to some 850,000 people.
BREAKING!!! Man opens fire on police in #Columbus#Ohio, which is close to #RNCinCLE More to follow....
— The Daily Haze (@DailyHaze) July 21, 2016Some 140km from the city, the Republican National Convention has been held in Cleveland since July 18. From Day 1 protests and scuffles between police and activists have been reported across the country.READ MORE: Arrests at flag burning in Cleveland
BREAKING-Columbus Police OH Scanner officers under rifle fire#bluelivesmatterhttps://t.co/kogxGHZjlhpic.twitter.com/dTaK4mof2o
— TeamTRUMP Media Net. (@TEAMTrumpRADIO) July 21, 2016On Wednesday several people were arrested after burning an American flag in a protest outside the RNC. Cleveland Police said that two officers were “assaulted” and sustained “minor injuries.”
Earlier this month, the killing of five police officers by a former military amid mass Black Lives Matter protests in the city of Dallas made headlines across the world. Five officers were killed and nine more injured. On top of that, two civilians sustained injuries.READ MORE: Dallas shooter planned 'devastating' attack using explosives – police
Police later identified the shooter as Micah Johnson, 25, of Mesquite, Texas. He was reportedly driven by revenge and began to take out police officers using a sniper rifle, which led to a tense standoff and ended in his death.